Ghost Town (2008) Film Review - Ricky Gervais

Plot Summary - A romantic-comedy with a fantasy twist. Ricky Gervais plays Bertram Pincus, a NYC dentist who lacks people skills - basically just a loner who doesn't like people being around him. But one day after an operation in which he dies briefly on the operating table a strange thing happens - he can see ghosts! New York City is ghost town, full of lost spirits who have unfinished business and can't get to the other side. Dr. Pincus is the only living person who can see them, so the ghosts come to him for help - and he doesn't like the ghosts anymore than living people! The main ghost in this story is a dead husband (Greg Kinnear) seeking to ruin the new relationship of his wife (Tia Leoni), a woman who happens to live in Dr. Pincus' building. Comedy, romance, and ghost stuff to follow.

Review - This is a fun film - I love fantasies - I love ghost movies too - so not surprising I liked this. The ghostly special effects are well done, and - as usual - I tend to love films set in New York City! Lots of nice on-location scenes in the city, and a light touch of comedy here and there made for a nice watch. Rating - 8.5/10 stars

Changeling (2008) Film Review - Clint Eastwood directed

Plot Summary - Period crime drama directed by Clint Eastwood and set in late twenties Los Angeles, based on a true story. About Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), mother of a nine-year old boy, Walter, who disappears one day and the troubles she has with the police investigation that follows. POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE REST OF REVIEW: the police deliver a boy five months later who claims to be Walter, but mom knows better and denies that this boy is really her son. Christine insists he's not the boy and the police have made a mistake - the cops want her to refute her claims against them and insist she's insane. Corruption in the LAPD leading to a trip into a local mad house for Christine (where other women who stood up against cops have been thrown and electric shock treatments are the norm) and a real life murder story infamously known as the "Wineville Chicken Coop Murders".

Review - A gripping story from beginning to end - I really liked this. It's an odd, scary tale that - unbelievably enough - really happened. Jason Butler Harner, the actor who plays the deranged murderer/monster, gives a really memorable, absolutely chilling performance - I could swear the man was actually a psychotic killer! The recreation of twenties/thirties L.A. is masterfully done, I loved seeing the streets and old red cars looking so realistic! A week later and I'm still thinking about this story. Rating - 9/10 stars

The Corn is Green (1945) Film Review - Bette Davis

Plot Summary - Melodrama set in a small village in turn-of-the-century Wales. Bette Davis plays the town's newest residence Miss Moffat, a strong-willed, liberated spinster who arrives in town on her bicycle "Priscilla". She decides right-off-the-bat to start a school to help teach the young men who work the coal mines (and others young and old) to read and write. Initial problems getting the school started leads Miss Moffat to thoughts of giving it all up, until she reads a composition written by a very promising young coal miner named Morgan Evans (John Dall) and decides to go on with the school and make Morgan her prize pupil. Preparing to help him pass the exam to win a scholarship to Oxford, troubles come in the form of a loose cockney gal, the daughter of Miss Moffat's servant.

Review - This is an engaging film, kept me interested and went by quickly - of course, helped along by the great Bette Davis with yet another strong performance. This is really an actors' showcase and is filled with well done performances. Nigel Bruce is amusing in this, as the rather bumbling town Squire - and John Dall was Oscar-nominated for his memorable performance here. Rating - 9/10 stars

W. (2008) Film Review - Oliver Stone, Josh Brolin

Plot Summary - Oliver Stone directed biopic about George W. Bush (Josh Brolin). Focusing on President Bush in the White House mainly in the decision days before the Iraq War, the film flashbacks throughout the film to show his earlier years. Going back to his Yale fraternity initiation, the day he meets future wife Laura at a barbecue, his struggles with alcoholism, and struggles between him and his father - all leading to Bush changing his ways to become a born-again Christian, his life in politics leading up to his election as Texas governor and finally the Presidency.

Review - I thought the film gave a pretty sympathetic look at G.W. Bush, but as a whole was a well done film anyway. I'm not the queen of bio-pics unless really superbly done - following that note, this was a typical one: nicely filmed, very well acted, but nothing great. I thought Josh Brolin did a good job playing Bush. Rating - 8/10 stars

The Visitor (2008) Film Review - Richard Jenkins

Plot Summary - Indie film about Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins), a quiet, mild-mannered, middle-aged economics professor, widowed and leading a rather humdrum life alone in Connecticut. He also keeps an apartment in NYC, but when he heads there to present a paper at a conference he finds a young immigrant couple have been illegally sublet his place and are living in it! The couple, a Syrian man named Tarek and his African girlfriend who sells jewelry, are allowed to stay by Walter until they find another place, but he ends up befriending them and finds his lifestyle about to change as Tarek teaches him to play the Djembe, an African drum - cool! Trouble with immigration for Tarek brings his mother to stay with Walter as the two bond while trying to help Tarek before he ends up deported.

Review - This is a quiet film, with interesting plotline and on-location scenes filmed in a rather rainy New York City. I quite liked this. Richard Jenkins received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for this role, by the way. Rating - 8.5/10 stars

Nights in Rodanthe (2008) Film Review - Diane Lane

Plot Summary - Romantic tearjerker about two middle-aged people who find love on a hurricane-driven night in a beach inn in Rondanthe, North Carolina. Separated mom of two, Adrienne (Diane Lane) goes to Rodanthe to run the inn owned by her gal pal who is out of town. Off season, only one guest is expected, and he turns out to be a handsome, divorced plastic surgeon named Paul (Richard Gere). Um - lucky girl. They start to bond a bit at dinnertime, helped along by the fact it's just the two of them. Soon a huge, scary hurricane leads them into each other's arms. But back home troubles for both - Adrienne has an ex who wants her back and a demanding teen daughter - our man Dr. Paul has a conflict with his son, a doctor, who fled to Ecuador after a patient died on dad's operating table during surgery. And the biggest conflict and the reason why the doctor is in Rodanthe in the first place - to meet with the husband of his dead patient. After their days together, Paul heads to Ecuador to bring home his son, keeping in touch with Adrienne via a series of letters, and I'll say no more!

Review - A nice, romantic film - pretty darn predictable, but quite enjoyable nevertheless. The setting of this film is gorgeous, the inn a several story Victorian full of a tumble of inviting looking porches and set right on a private-looking beach, decorated inside with all sorts of neat-o decorations and bric-a-brac - - I'd like to own that house! I've been a fan of Diane Lane ever since her role in one of my fave 70s films, "A Little Romance (1979)" and also "The Outsiders (1983)" - - she gives a strong, emotional performance in this film and I think she still looks really beautiful too. There was a nice chemistry between her and Richard Gere. Pretty romantic - beautiful house, dinner and wine with a handsome stranger (the hurricane I could live without!). This film was just what I needed on this rainy afternoon - ah! Rating - 9/10 stars

The Last Laugh (1924) Film Review - Der Letzte Mann

Plot Summary - German silent film, directed by F.W. Murnau. Starring Emil Jannings as a declining doorman at a fancy, bustling hotel - - in his brass buttoned uniform and cap, his lavish mustache well attended, he struts as proud as a peacock home from work each day. But seen as aging and frail after being observed exhausted after carrying a heavy trunk, he is reassigned - as lowly attendant in the men's washroom! Alone in the quiet, lower level washroom while all above is well-heeled clientele in lively hotel atmosphere, our man takes this demotion very, very hard. He even steals his old uniform and goes home wearing it, not wanting his family - in the midst of his daughter's wedding - to know the truth. When the wife brings food for him as a surprise the next day, she screams in horror (an interesting shot!) and soon his whole neighborhood of gossips has found out the truth. Devastating. POSSIBLE SPOILER: A happy ending gives a much needed anecdote to all this depression, I must say.

Review - The photographic style of this film is very interesting to look at - it is filmed without any intertitles, with the exception of a couple of letters and writing on a cake, so the story is almost completely told visually. There are interesting shots of the rainy streets seen through the large hotel revolving door, and a few imagination/dream sequences. The film is somewhat depressing, I must say, as our lead man is mainly seen looking deeply saddened and sort of on his last legs. The version I saw was on Kino DVD, the German restored version with a very nice sounding orchestral score and fab looking black and white print. Rating - 10/10 stars

In Bruges (2008) Film Review - Colin Farrell

Plot Summary - Thriller about two Irish hit men, Ray and Ken (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson), who are holed up in Bruges, Belgium for two weeks awaiting orders from their boss (Ralph Fiennes). Ken enjoys the beauty of medieval Bruges but Ray would rather be in the Bahamas - he hates Bruges. When the order finally comes, Ken is secretly assigned to kill his pal Ray because of a botched hit in which Ray accidentally killed a small boy. But Ray has other problems as well, as he becomes tormented and suicidal about the boy's death. While in Bruges Ray also has encounters with a pretty blond drug dealer and an American dwarf who is in Bruges filming a movie.

Review - This is a really good film, with engaging conversations between the two main characters. The interaction between these men seems to take over the film above the actual crimes they are committing - the two have almost a comical, odd couple relationship. The setting in Bruges is gorgeous - now there's a city I need to add to my "to visit one day" list - wow, what a neat looking place. Rating - 9/10 stars

The Secret Life of Bees (2008) Film Review - Dakota Fanning

Plot Summary - Coming-of-age tale set in South Carolina, where racial tensions abound in the summer of 1964. With an abusive, unloving father and a deceased mother, fourteen-year old Lily (Dakota Fanning) takes off with her caregiver (Jennifer Hudson) where soon the two of them are taken under the wing and guidance of three loving black sisters named after seasons who run a successful bee farm, producing honey under a "Black Madonna" label. Living in the honey house, Lily is soon having flirtations with a young black man, learning about bees, and finding out the truth about her mother - and herself.

Review - A very entertaining, moving film enhanced by top-notch performances, nicely filmed period setting and pretty on-location scenery. Dakota Fanning gives a well done, sensitive performance - as does Queen Latifah as the oldest sister August, who guides young Lily as they work the honey farm. I really enjoyed this film a lot! Rating - 9.5/10 stars

Trouble in Store (1953) Film Review - Norman Wisdom

Plot Summary - British screwball comedy mostly taking place inside a large London department store. Clumsy, disheveled Norman (Norman Wisdom) works in the store's stock room but dreams of being promoted to window dresser while he admires pretty co-worker Sally, singer/salesgirl in the record department who just doesn't seem to notice him (interestingly, Norman has a great singing voice yet doesn't seem to want to pursue that as a career choice!). Lots of antics to follow in his pursuit of both his career and his dream girl including Norman being sacked then rehired several times after run-ins with the chief of staff, and other comic antics including Norman on roller skates, Norman hitting it off with the public in his comical pursuit of dressing a store window with dinnerware, and a ring-around-the-rosy staff dance followed by dinner where Norman's pants catch on fire. Other hijinks round out the action in the store including an eccentric shoplifter (Margaret Rutherford) who goes about stuffing goods into a couple of giant suitcases, the inept store detective who just doesn't seem to get it, and a tall, handsome gangster who Norman sees as a rival for Sally but is actually in league with the chief's secretary to rob the store.

Review - This is a funny, far-fetched film, loaded to the gills with slapstick - some of which is sort of over the top. Norman Wisdom is a very funny comedian - and, as mentioned above, he also sings! I am always amused by Margaret Rutherford whenever she appears on screen - a hoot, and she steals every scene she's in! I didn't think this was as funny as the Norman Wisdom film I saw last week, "Just My Luck (1957)", but still found this to be entertaining. Rating - 7/10 stars

Pride and Glory (2008) Film Review - Edward Norton

Plot Summary - New York City cop movie. After the murder of four police officers in a drug raid, a task force is organized to find the cop killer. Raymond Tierney (Edward Norton), son of a cop (Jon Voight), brother of a cop, brother-in-law of a cop (Colin Farrell), goes back on the force in pursuit of the killer but uncovers a possible scandal in the police force involving a group of dirty cops. We get into some good cop versus bad cop stuff, and a family struggling to stick by their own.

Review - Okay, this film was entertaining enough - though nothing great. I watched this one to see one of my current fave heartthrob's Edward Norton (spark!), but found the story slightly confusing and a bit run-of-the-mill. A bit disappointing. Rating - 7/10 stars

Just My Luck (1957) Film Review - Norman Wisdom

Plot Summary - British screwball comedy centering around a horse racing bet. Starring Norman Wisdom as Norman, a man who lives with his overbearing mother who handles all his pay and keeps her forty-plus son on a strict "allowance". Norman works at a jewelry store where he admires from a distance the young lady who works at the dress shop across the street - with a desire to buy the woman an expensive diamond pendant, he sneaks a pound from mama's "holiday fund" jar to back an accumulator bet he wants to make on a jockey via a local bookie joint. Now his jockey must win six races in a row for him to win a large sum of cash, and meanwhile Norman, by chance, meets his dream girl on the subway train and romance blossoms. At one point Norman tries to purchase a horse that is part of his bet from an eccentric (Margaret Rutherford) who lives with a large menagerie of critters large and small, including assorted birds, a chimpanzee, and a big elephant living in the front yard. Will Norman win the bet or get the girl - or both?!

Review - I quite liked this film - very entertaining and quite funny, parts had me laughing out loud. Particularly enjoyed the movie theatre scene where Norman has taken out aggressive neighbor Phoebe against his personal desires (pushed into it by Phoebe and mama, plus a desire to acquire a pound from her for the purpose of making his bet) and not only has to contend with her coming on to him but the people around him in the movie who are being annoyed by his antics - hilarious. I can't say that I've ever seen actor Norman Wisdom before - I really liked him, very funny fellow - I'm now a fan. A fun film all around. Rating - 8.5/10 stars

Quo Vadis (1951) Film Review - Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr

Plot Summary - Epic film set in Imperial Rome at the time of Nero, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The story centers around handsome commander of the Roman Army, Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) and his intense admiration and sometimes bumbled pursuit of the beautiful Christian girl Lygia (Deborah Kerr), a "hostage" who lives with loving, adoptive parents. Lygia is by law a ward of Nero, so Marcus arranges to have her delivered to Nero's "House of Women" to be presented to Marcus as a reward for his battles. Meanwhile, Nero sings, writes lyrics, and starts getting crazier and crazier ideas until finally deciding to burn down Rome and build it anew. But when the citizens of Rome form a mob, blaming Nero for ruining their city, he pins the blame on the Christians, has them all arrested and sent to be killed by the lions in the arena.

Review - A lavish spectacle from beginning to end, with edge of your seat storyline filmed in gorgeous Technicolor - I loved this! It's 3 hour length went by very quickly for me. Peter Ustinov gives a spectacular performance as Nero - another film wow! Rating - 10/10 stars

The Duchess (2008) Film Review - Keira Knightley

Plot Summary - Period film from the UK, based on the true story of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire. The story begins in 1774 when Lady Geogiana (Keira Knightley) becomes engaged and married to the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). Now a duchess and very important figure in England, she enters into a life with a husband who ends up being aloof and incompatible, yet forceful in the bedroom in his demands for her to give him a son. A bad marriage and years to come with only daughters, Georgiana seems to spend her time hosting drinking/gambling parties, and becomes known as a major fashion plate, with hair piled high on her head Marie Antoinette style. She befriends Lady Elizabeth "Bess" Foster, a woman with her own bad marriage and husband who has left her and taken her three sons away for good - Georgiana then invites her new friend to live at their house, an affair follows between the Duke and Bess. When Georgiana falls in love with handsome political man Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper), the Duke stands in the way of a blossoming, and potentially scandalous affair.

Review - This is an extremely lavish period production, the costumes are *stunningly* gorgeous, the art direction and on-location scenery and luxurious castle settings are fabulous to see. I love Keira Knightley and I think Ralph Fiennes did a great job as the indifferent husband. The people in this story certainly lead lives that could rival most nighttime soap operas. Wow! Rating - 10/10 stars